Category: Neck Pain

July 18, 2019

How to Treat Cervical Spondylosis with Ayurveda

What is CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS TREATMENT IN AYURVEDA

It is the disorder related to aging which involves discs, vertebrae, and ligaments in the neck or cervical spine.

It is also known as Arthritis of the Neck, Cervical osteoarthritis, or Degenerative Osteoarthritis.

In cervical spondylosis, edges of the vertebrae start developing osteophytes. After some time the disc becomes thinner and loses its ability to absorb the shock that increases the risk of spondylosis.

If joints in the neck are swollen it is called FACET JOINTS. It makes pressure on the spinal cord or nearby nerve roots that create a tingling or pricking sensation and pain in limbs. In some cases, there is a loss of sensation and coordination. Some people develop difficulty in walking.

ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

Cervical spondylosis in Ayurveda is described under “GRIVA SANDHIGATA VATA “or also called as “MANYASATAMBH” means stiffness in the neck. The abnormality in Vata doshas is caused by two procedure, in which one is Kapha and Pitta is not functioning properly.

Herbal Remedies for Cervical Spondylosis

The shalok describes that MANYA SATAMBH is a vataj dosha. When abnormal Vayu dosha entered into the nerves of neck, then MANYA SATAMBH develop. In this roga(disease) neck is contracted and stiffened inside.  Neck become stiff, watering from the mouth, teeth chattering is present, the body becomes rigid type. Back part is stretched, yawning or giddiness is present. They are the symptoms of MANYA SATAMBH.

CAUSES OF CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

  • OVERGROWTH OF BONES: The body trying to grow extra bones for making a stronger spine. This overgrowth of bones is called BONE SPURS or OSTEOPHYTES. This overgrowth of bones creates pressure on the delicate or soft area of the spine, like on spinal cord and nerves, which starts causing pain.
  • DRYING OF GEL-LIKE MATERIAL IN THE DISCS: In our spinal bones, discs are present between there is thick, pad-like cushions. This material protects from shock, injury, lifting, twisting, and other physical activities. This gel-like material start drying gradually and spinal discs become dehydrated bones rubbing with each other, so this is painful.
  • CRACKS IN THE DISCS:  The spinal discs start because of which gel-like material starts leaking. This leakage material puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that results in pain and numbness.
  • INJURY OR ANY TRAUMA: Any trauma to your neck, like during road accident, falling, fighting, etc. damage the spinal discs.
  • STIFFNESS IN THE LIGAMENT: The ligaments of the spinal cord start stiffening that makes your neck stiffed or tight and create restrictions in the movement of the neck.
  • MORE USING OF NECK: In some occupations or professional works and in some hobbies forceful and continues movements of the neck region,  this put the pressure on the spine.
  • Some genetical factors are also responsible for spondylosis.
  • As previously present in the family.
  • Smoking and any drug addiction are also responsible.
  • Overweight and lazy, inactive persons become primary for cervical spondylosis.
  • Any hormonal imbalance.

SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Normally patients of cervical spondylosis, do not have any symptoms.

The range of clinical features occur from mild to severe or sometimes develop suddenly.

Common symptom is PAIN. Sometimes the pain radiates to the arm and fingers.

The pain mostly accelerates during

  • Person is in standing position
  • During the sitting position
  • While sneezing
  • At the time of coughing
  • When you are tilting your neck backward

Another symptom that is common is the weakness of the muscle. Due to weakening of muscles, it is difficult to grasps the objects and it is harder to lift the objects in arms.

Other common signs are:

  • The neck becomes stiffed
  • Headache mostly occurs
  • On the shoulder& leg region and arm, there is tingling sensation and numbness also occur in legs.

COMPLICATIONS OF CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

Cervical myelopathy can create other disabilities at different grading.

  • Tetraplegia
  • A chest infection can occur recurrently
  • Paraplegia
  • Pressure on the sores

Best Exercise for Cervical Spondylitis

EXERCISE FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

  • Try to keep your body in a straight position. Make your posture straight during sitting and standing, don’t create a C-type curve shape posture of the spinal area. It is also called NECK STRETCH exercise. Hold this step for at least 5 seconds, and do the 5 repetitions.
  • NECK TILT sideways and also forwardly tilt your neck so that it touches the chest area. Do this for about 5 seconds and repeat this exercise 5 times.
  • NECK TURNING EXERCISE: Just turn your head at one side in a comfortable manner, stretch your neck muscle softly. Repeat this process, in the opposite direction.
  • SHOULDER EXERCISE: Move your shoulder in a round or circular manner, this process stretches your neck and spinal muscle.

LIFESTYLE ADVICE

  • Yoga like Tadasana, bhujangaasan, etc. and other physical activities such as swimming, cycling, light dumbbell, pushups are useful in cervical spondylosis.
  • PHYSIOTHERAPY is also another option for treating cervical spondylosis.
  • Painkiller can be used in severe condition.
  • Avoid physical or mental efforts, try to stay free from mental stress.
  • Take a good hour of sleep during night time. At least 6-7 hours of sleep is necessary.
  • Have a soothing massage with lukewarm oil.
  • Intake of easily digested food should be increased, vegetable soups, dairy products and nuts like almond, cashew nuts are added to your daily life.
  • Start taking of protein, calcium-rich diet.
  • Take a sunbath which is a good source of vitamin D, makes your bones stronger.

HOME REMEDIES FOR CERVICAL SPONDYLOSIS

  • Take two cloves of garlic and crush them. Add this paste to one glass of milk. Put it on a low flame for boiling, when one-fourth part is left, then strain it and divide it into two equal parts. Drink one part in the morning and another one at night time.
  • Take one tablespoon of castor oil before sleeping time.
  • Massage with almond oil or sesame oil on the back give a soothing effect.
  • During pain, you can take one glass of hot milk and add a pinch of turmeric in it. This remedy act as a natural analgesic.
  • An ice pack can be used during pain or stiffness.
  • Heat therapy also is used.
  • Take some cloves of garlic and one tablespoon of ajwain and roasts them until they become reddish brown, now add this material into the warm mustard oil or sesame oil. Massage with this oil mixture.
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April 28, 2017

Top 7 Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia-Fatigue

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterised by widespread musculoskeletal pain which is accompanied by fatigue, memory, sleep and mood issues. It is a chronic condition where is non-inflammatory tenderness in muscles, ligaments and joints. Fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way by which brain processes pain signals. Fibromyalgia patients have been found to have lower levels of a brain neurotransmitter known as—serotonin which leads to lowered pain thresholds and increased sensitivity to pain. Serotonin also promotes calm and stable mental state.

Women are much more likely to develop fibromyalgia. Many people suffering from fibromyalgia also suffer from tension, headaches, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), anxiety, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. There is no cure of fibromyalgia in modern medicine but a variety of medicines are available to control its symptoms. Exercise and stress-reduction measures may also help.

Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia

What are the symptoms of fibromyalgia?

  1. Widespread pain—There is a constant dull ache that has lasted for at least 3 months. The pain occurs on both sides of the body and also above and below the waist.
  2. Cognitive difficulties—A symptom commonly known as—fibro fog impairs the ability to focus and concentrate on mental tasks.
  3. Fatigue—Patients suffering from fibromyalgia often awaken tired and the sleep is often disrupted by pain and many patients also develop sleep disorders like—restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.
  4. Many patients who have fibromyalgia also experience depression, headaches or cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
  5. Stiffness
  6. Burning sensation
  7. Pain is usually severe on waking up in the morning and gradually decreases with passing of the day.

What are the causes of Fibromyalgia?

  1. Infections—Some illnesses trigger or aggravate fibromyalgia.
  2. Physical or Emotional Trauma—Post-traumatic stress disorder can be correlated with fibromyalgia.
  3. Heredity—Fibromyalgia tends to run in families.

Diagnosis

  • The diagnostic evaluation of fibromyalgia can take time, but this should not be the barrier in primary care practices. It is diagnosed on the basis of characteristic symptoms. Patient history, physical examination and ruling out co-morbid disorders are the cornerstones of fibromyalgia recognition. No radiological testing is required however some tests like—ESR, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a complete blood cell count, rheumatoid factor (RF) factor is recommended.

Fibromyalgia according to Ayurveda

  1. The Charak Samhita Sutrasthana Chapter 13 elaborates on the pre-eminence and primacy of the Vata dosha in the body. Acording to Master Charak, Vata is the physical energy of the body penetrating as a life force everywhere in the physiology. Fibromyalgia is classified as Mamsa Dhatugat (diseases affecting muscles and tendons) and Mamsavrut Vata (diseases due to excess of Vata dosha in muscles and tendons). It involves dysfunction in Vata Vaha Srota, Mamsa Vaha Srota and Mamsa Dhatvagni. It falls into a sub-type of disease known in Ayurveda as “Vatavyadhi”—the diseases caused primarily due to the vitiation of Vata dosha—the physiological energy responsible for the stability and activity of the nervous system.
  2. It is described in ancient texts as manifesting with a variety of possible and changing symptoms and signs including pain, stiffness, fatigue, gradual loss of movement, mental disturbance etc.  Dietary and lifestyle modifications are suggested in Ayurveda to correct the Vata imbalance. In Ayurveda, accumulation of toxins is believed to be the root cause of various auto-immune disorders like—rheumatoid arthritis, cervical spondylosis and fibromyalgia.
  3. The build-up of toxins can lead a person to feel fatigue all the time. When toxic accumulation takes its toll on the nerve tissue, it results into the symptoms of tenderness, sensitivity and pain. Therefore, cleaning of toxins becomes necessary. Primarily, samprapti (pathogenesis) originates in the gastro-intestinal tract, then branches out through the madhyama rogamarga, the middle channels of the pathogenic process of disease with special inclination for shleshma sthana especially mamsa dhatu (muscle tissue) and their corresponding channels.

Ayurveda uses a range of natural anti-arthritic herbs to treat this condition. Various herbs are

  • Shallaki (Boswellia serrata)—This herb is commonly known as “Salai Guggal”. It is a resin obtained from the tree and is purified and used to treat pain and inflammation. It has the potential to relieve pain naturally without having any side effects and is a popular natural anti-inflammatory herb used by Ayurvedic physicians across the world.
  • Nirgundi (Vitex negundo)—It is considered as the most potent anti-arthritic herb effective in controlling pain and inflammation in arthritic conditions.
  • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)-–  This herb is commonly known by the name Indian ginseng by the western countries. This herb has anti-inflammatory and anti-stress properties.
  • Guggul (Commiphora mukul)—This herb has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. This herb helps particularly in osteo-arthritis.
  • Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia)—This herb is one of the leading immunomodulators. This herb is known by the name “Amrita” meaning elixir for long life.
  • Ginger (Zingiber officinale)—It is a very common anti-inflammatory herb that reduces inflammation and also a good analgesic.

Top 7 Home Remedies for Fibromyalgia:

  1. Grind 8-10 papaya seeds and mix it in a glass of water and boil it. Drink this water twice or thrice a day for a month.
  2. Drink freshly prepared cranberry juice or radish juice daily.
  3. Drinking freshly prepared juice of beetroot, carrot can help in fighting this condition, apart from improving overall health.
  4. Make Meditation as a part of your lifestyle.
  5. Regular Sleeping Habits—This is important for reducing pain
  6. Make a habit of morning walk every day.
  7. Epsom salt—Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate. Epsom salt bath helps the body to absorb magnesium as fibromyalgia is associated with magnesium deficiency.

Diet—Things to be Taken

  • The best suited diet for fibromyalgia are vegetable juices, cow’s ghee, spices such as—ginger, coriander, asafoetida, turmeric, fennel, etc. It is a condition mainly associated with magnesium deficiency, so it is good to consume green leafy vegetables, soybeans, cashews, almonds. Taking omega-3 fatty acids help in creating a hormone prostaglandin that helps in reducing inflammation.
  • It is essential to drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from the body.

Things to be Avoided

  • Avoid eating spicy food, caffeine, refined sugar, yogurt.

Note : It should be noted that herbs give results but it will take some time for herbs to manifest in the body.

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